USN Amphibious Ships - The Gator Navy "L" Ships & AKA/APA

[Bearmon]

Nice additions again.

[Bearmon]

Great group of patches guys.

Bearmon,

Good thing I didn't happen to collect these types of patches or we would have been knocking each other out on some of the auctions.

Here is one contribution of mine . USS Hunterdon Cty was LST-838 in early part of Vietnam war and then re-assigned as AGP-838 to support Hal-3 and others.

Mitch

 

Very nice Mitch as you know I have real soft spot for the VN era patches....

Glad we don't butt heads on this type too!

[Sergesquadron]

Nice additions again.

 

Thank you.

Serge

[Patchcollector]

Here are a few from my collection.

 

Back view

 

2

 

Back view

 

3

 

Back view

 

4

 

 

This one is my favorite.The Japanese embroidery work is fantastic,look at the great colors in the Gator.

 

Back view

 

5

 

6

 

Back view

 

7

 

Back view

 

8

 

Back view

 

9

 

Back view

 

10

 

Back view

 

11

 

Back view

 

12

 

Back view

 

13

 

This one is for a Med cruise

 

Back view

 

Well,that's it for now.

[Sergesquadron]

Well,that's it for now.

 

Very Nice Collection.

Serge

[Sergesquadron]

USS TARAWA LHA-1

[Mitch]

Alot of nice patches. I was digging again and found this patch for LSD-16. The USS Cabildo. It was in Vietnam from 1965-68 and decommisioned in 70. It looks Japanese made.

Mitch

[Patchcollector]

Nice stuff guys

[sigsaye]

This was my first Gator. I was SM1, served from '81 to '84. Great ship and my favorite of all I served on. She still did the "Over the Side" boats WW 2 style. Great ships, very comfortable coming from old Tin Cans

 

Back of St. Louis

 

My second Gator, '90-'93 and first East Coast ship. Went to Desert Storm in her. Made SMCS here. All Weldeck ops, operated LCACs mostly. Lots of helo ops

 

Back of Pensacola patch

 

This one has already been posted by some one else, but I served on Nashville from '97-'99 and she was my last ship, so thought I'd post again.

 

Back of Nashville patch

[sigsaye]

This is a plaque from the only Gator my Father served on. '63-'65

[Salvage Sailor]

Nice one, I like the question mark motif. What are they bringing to the far east?

[sigsaye]

Good question, Never really knew too much about the symbology of the plaque. When my Dad was on the ship, she was out of San Diego, the plaque gives the impression of a Pearl Home port. I remember seeing the guys on the ship wearing a jacket patch with a design very close to this, but the gator was carrying a suit case with a question mark, and had a shot gun over his shoulder. My dad was never big on this sort of thing. He would bring patches home if he found them lying around the compartment. I remember a really nice twill USS Little Rock CLG-6 patch, but have lost that over the last 50 years.

[Mitch]

Hi Guys ,

Great patches so far. I wanted to add, the USS Eldorado patch, I have here. The USS Eldorado served as flagship for the Commander Amphibious Forces Pacific Fleet in rotation with USS Estes (AGC-12) and Mount McKinley during the Vietnam War. In 1967 her crew earned the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation for her role in twelve amphibious assaults in Vietnam in conjunction with the Amphibious Ready Group and the Marine Special Landing Force. This is a 5 inch Japanese made patch and besides , it has a gator on it.

Regards, Mitch

[Sergesquadron]

USS MOBILE LKA-115

[Bearmon]

Amphibious Squadron 6

[Bearmon]

Boat Unit One Very interesting history posted here earlier, These guys did the Amphibious landings in Korea

Very large patch 12 by 10 inches give or take

FROM THE WEB:

In July, 1947, a new command came into being next door to LCU Squadron ONE: Boat Unit ONE, a small craft command specializing in the Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM), and Landing Craft Vehicle/Personnel (LCVP). In 1950 in response to the outbreak of hostilities in Korea, both commands deployed craft to the Far East. Within a few months, more than 36 LCU and more than 120 LCM and LCVP were in Korea, manned by over 1.500 Sailors. These craft formed the spearhead of the amphibious assault at Inchon, and LCU Squadron ONE and Boat Unit ONE craft took part in every amphibious operation of the conflict. Following hostilities, a detachment of LCU Squadron ONE and Boat Unit ONE craft were permanently forward-deployed in Japan.

Following the conflict in Korea, LCU Squadron ONE and Boat Unit ONE craft took part in various operations around the Pacific including goodwill tours to Borneo, Singapore, Pakistan, Ceylon, Bombay and Karachi, evacuation of over 100,000 French military and Vietnamese refugees from North Vietnam, as well as providing lift for the armed withdrawal of Chinese Nationalist troops from the Tachen Islands to Taiwan. On December 5, 1958 the CNO reclassified LCU from commissioned vessels, with ENS or LTJG Commanding Officers, to combatant craft with Chief Petty Officer Craftmasters.

On October 1 1963, CNO directed a merger between Boat Unit ONE and LCU Squadron ONE in order to combine and streamline the operation of the two similar commands. Boat Unit ONE was disestablished and all boats and personnel were transferred to the three LCU Divisions. LCU Squadron ONE was renamed Assault Craft Squadron ONE (ACS-1), and the divisions changed from LCU Divisions to Assault Craft Divisions to Assault Craft Divisions. The Squadron Commander was classified as a Commodore, with each Division having its own Commanding Officer and organizational staff. The squadron still retained its Western Pacific Detachment.

 

[dpcsdan]

Only one of these is in my collection, but they are relevant.

-dan

 

[Bearmon]

USS Wahkiakum County LST-1162 1953-1970 East Coast Amphib

 

[Bearmon]

Amphibious Squadron 12 The LST 1136 posted above was attached to PHIBRON 12 in the early 60's

[Bearmon]

USS Mount Whitney LCC 20

 

Amphibious Force Pacific Fleet

 

Another Amphibious Force Pacific Fleet

 

 

Amphibious Group 3 Nice Japanese manufacture

 

[Bearmon]

USS Cambria APA 36

 

[Mitch]

Hi Guys,

I forgot that I had this Viet made patch. Well I didn't really forget I had it , I just forgot is was for a LCPL. It is an early patch that is Viet handmade with quilting and machine sewn border. I believe this patch to represent a LCPL Mark IV converted for Harbor defense and support for IUWG and Seal guys. If anyone can translate the Viet saying to the top of the patch, that would be much appreciated.

Regards, Mitch

[Bearmon]

Killer Mitch!

[Bearmon]

A few new pick ups First Up USS Cabildo LSD 16

 

[Bearmon]

Next up the USS Mathews AKA 96